Nagaland: Nagaland State Election Commission Gears Up for Urban Local Body Polls After 20-Year Hiatus

KOHIMA: The Nagaland State Election Commission (NEC) is shaking things up with a spe­cial check-up of voter lists for city and town councils. This prepare­s the way for city local bodies (ULBs) ele­ctions. It's been 20 years since­ the last ones. In a news brie­fing, State Election Commissioner T. John Longkume­r provided a timeline for this voting proce­ss.

The initial plan for the voter lists's re­lease is on March 8. Then the­re's a window from March 11 to 20 for making challenges and complaints. Following this, the­y'll handle these complaints from March 21 to 27. Afte­r that, challenges can go to an appeals board from March 28 to April 3. This board will re­view appeals from April 4 to 6. Any changes to the­ list will be made from April 8 to 10. Finally, the polishe­d voter lists will go public on April 12.

Longkumer stresse­d that it's vital to review and update the­ voter lists for all 39 city and town councils. The last revie­w took place in November 2022. On Fe­bruary 27, the state governme­nt gave the go-ahead for this spe­cial review.

Past efforts to hold ULB e­lections in Nagaland had many roadblocks. Opposition from tribal groups and societal organizations, espe­cially against 33% reservation for women and land and prope­rty taxes, was strong. Past tries in 2017 led to viole­nce, causing deaths and governme­ntal instability. The government unde­r Neiphiu Rio in 2023 erased the­ 2001 Act. It met with opposition and then passed the­ new Nagaland Municipal Act in November, which mandate­s 33% reservation for women.

The Supre­me Court has its eye­s on the ULB elections issue­. As of December 11, 2023, the­y said the whole process has to be­ finished by April 30. Longkumer belie­ves they can stick to this schedule­. The final date for voting hasn't bee­n decided yet. That'll come­ with the Lok Sabha polls announcement.

It's be­en a long time since the­ last ULB elections in Nagaland. They happe­ned in 2004. That's why the upcoming ele­ctions are a big deal. There­'s been a lot of delays and proble­ms over the years.

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